Movie Review: I, Anna ✭✭✭ (Release date 7th Dec)

I, ANNA

The darkest secrets are the ones we hide from ourselves 

Release Date: 7th December 

I, ANNA is a dark and powerful tale of two lovers whose destinies collide during a murder investigation. Anna (Charlotte Rampling), a striking and enigmatic woman, who reluctantly attends a speed dating event.

A man is found bludgeoned to death in a London apartment block. DCI Bernie Reid (Gabriel Byrne), an insomniac dazed by the prospect of divorce, is first on the scene, but is distracted from his duties by a brief encounter with Anna.

Going through the motions of the case, Bernie’s thoughts return to Anna whom he tracks down and follows. When they finally meet at a singles party, the mutual attraction is instant, although Anna has no recollection of Bernie, nor of the night they first met.

As Bernie’s professional judgement battles with his desire for intimacy and love, the mystery deep within Anna’s mind finally unravels, revealing a truth too painful to bear.

The script is adapted from the novel by Elsa Lewin, a retired psychoanalyst living in New York state, which was originally published in the US and Europe in the mid 80’s. The director of this movie; Barnaby Southcombe is Charlotte Rampling’s son, Southcombe knew when he read the book that the part of Anna had to be played by his mother, and eventually she accepted the role.

Charlotte Rampling and Gabriel Byrne in this movie are simply a dream team, perfect chemistry and incredible acting. If anyone else had been cast in this movie I don’t think it would have had the same affect. The two actors are also joined by a stellar cast, Eddie Marsan, Jodhi May and Honor Blackman in supporting roles. It was a very interesting, dark and intense movie, a film very much about the world of memory, mistaken identity, reality, and hiding from reality. If you like dark and thought-provoking thrillers this is definitely a movie for you to watch.

3 stars ✭✭✭

Review by Christina Benneworth